I’m pleased to introduce you to the
4Generations Institute, a new chapter of my advocacy career. It is
an exciting enterprise, and I’m
thrilled to let you know your interest and involvement is so important
to me.

The 4Generations Institute will cultivate the exchange of wisdom and energy
among our generations - children/youth/young adults, parents, grandparents,
and elders.

The Institute will serve to promote community volunteerism for mutual benefit.
Working with community leaders across the state, the Institute will work
to identify challenges and inspire the contributions of human and fiscal
capital to address the problems associated with our communities’ growth.

The key objectives of the Institute are to identify model intergenerational
programs and projects, to expand the impact of quality mentoring and volunteer
initiatives, and to cultivate an environment to nurture communications across
the generations.

In the short term, we will call together Florida’s generations and
hear from them. It is the voice of the people across the state that
should determine and direct our agenda and activities.

In the long run, the Institute will develop powerful partnerships to bridge
Florida’s generation gaps to build successful policies and establish
outcome-based programs for mutual benefit.

A key outcome of the Institute’s efforts will be broadening awareness
of the importance of engaging the community in a range of proven
programs: access to health care, prevention of child abuse and neglect,
innovative alternatives to educational failure, quality rehabilitative
and treatment services for youth, and services which promote parent, grandparent
and elder involvement in youth programs. The Institute will develop activities
in three inter-related dimensions:

Recruiting leaders, identifying key community-based partners, and produce
a three-year plan of operation for the successful implementation
of the 4 Generations Institute

Coordinate with current partners
and potential allies within the identified key community markets
through on-site facilitation of seminars, dialogues and community
events that highlight the need for intergenerational connections
and volunteer commitments

Outreach to the media, business leaders, and allied
organizations to present the value of prevention, quality community-based
services, and volunteer initiatives

The categories of activities outlined above will focus on achieving the
4Generations Institute’s community goals in a variety of ways.

Assisting in reaching out to audiences in key geographical areas
to create opportunities for new volunteerism partnerships and positioning
the Institute in achieving its goals with community leaders, academic
partners, philanthropy, public officials, the media, and an array
of social service, judicial, educational, faith, civic, and business
sector leaders

Providing access to model strategies and policy/program initiatives
that show promise in achieving goals of intergenerational communication
and enhancing positive outcomes for youth and families though volunteerism

Developing creative approaches to communications and advocacy activities
related to message development, media outreach, and commitments from
community leaders to make sustainable investments in the intergenerational
policies, programs, and model community structures developed through
the course of the project

I pledge to expand the offerings of this site and eagerly look forward to
this work.